The District of Columbia is one of the most progressive cities in the country. The recent changes in the political climate put our progressive policies and programs at risk. Our panelists will discuss the potential impacts in policy and funding on the key issues of Education, Health Care and Immigration.

The Panel Discussion will be followed by the Annual Meeting of the League of Women Voters of the District of Columbia.

Our Panelists

Councilmember Charles Allen, Ward 6

Allen is the Chair of the Council's Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety. He cares deeply about public safety and good government issues, and is committed to working to ensure everyone in the District has a safe neighborhood and that we are a fair and just city. He is also a member of the Council's Committees on Education, Transportation and the Environment, and Business and Economic Development. He serves as First Vice Chair of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments' Transportation Planning Board and was named an Early Learning Fellow by the National Conference of State Legislatures. He also serves on the NCSL's standing committees on Education, Natural Resources & Infrastructure, and Law, Criminal Justice, & Public Safety.

Nithya Nathan-Pineau: Program Director, CAIR Coalition

The Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights Coalition (CAIR)strives to ensure equal justice for all immigrant men, women, and children at risk of detention and deportation in the DC metropolitan area and beyond through direct legal representation, know your rights presentations, impact and advocacy work, and the training of attorneys defending immigrants in the immigration and criminal justice arenas.

Nithya manages the Detained Immigrant Children's Program, which provides legal services to children detained in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, direct representation, pro bono mentorship and training, and community outreach.

DC Primary Care Association (DCPCA) works to create healthier communities through advocacy and the development of the infrastructure to support a high quality, equitable, integrated health care system that gives every DC resident a fair shot at a full and healthy life.

Patricia Quinn has more than 20 years’ experience promoting the health and wellbeing of children, youth, and families through public policy analysis, advocacy, and organizing. As executive director of the Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy from 2008-2013, Mrs. Quinn lead the only organization in Massachusetts dedicated to ensuring that state and local policies effectively address the complex issues associated with teen pregnancy. Under Patricia’s leadership, the Alliance enhanced its collaboration with policymakers, the media, and local, state and national partners, resulting in a teen birth rate that is lowest on record.

Annual Meeting

Items of Business:

To elect Officers & Directors to two year terms until the 2019 Annual Meeting, and the Nominating Committee to one year terms until the 2018 Annual Meeting;

To approve the consolidation of the League of Women Voters of the District of Columbia and The League of Women Voters of the District of Columbia Education Fund;